AS RACEGOERS experienced the thrills and twists of the 158th Grand National, the rail union which tried to bring the crowds to a standstill was told: "You have not won."

Concerns were raised that spectators would be unable to get to Aintree when train guards went on strike during the last two days of the meeting, which attracted crowds of more than 150,000 over the three days.

And while there were inevitable traffic jams and frayed tempers in the crowds, Merseyside Police and Merseytravel were praised for their efforts in transporting people to and from the racecourse.

Spectators at Saturday's steeplechase criticised the timing of the strike, but said the Rail Maritime and Transport Union had failed to get its point across, as it tried to reduce train guards' working hours from 36 to 35 hours a week.

Jim McDougall, 59, a surveyor from Aberdeen, said: "They might have won a couple of pennies, but they haven't won any favours.

"When people are coming here specifically for the racing, they are going to find another means of transport. We've come 350 miles and we're not going to be put off by a train strike."

David Clarke, 51, a managing director from Woodchurch, Kent, added: "I had no problems getting here at all. We arranged a lift and we came in early. Everything seems to have been well planned and it's all come together successfully."

Chief Supt Colin Matthews, who was in charge of transporting crowds, said the success of the operation was a tribute to the spirit of Merseyside.

He said: "By about an hour and a half after the last race on Saturday, we were close to getting everybody out to the city centre.

"It has been a tremendous achievement for all the agencies involved. Given the nature of the dispute, we had a matter of days to plan the operation." The strike is estimated to have cost Merseyrail between £300,000 and £400,000 in lost fares and advertising.

Although Carrie Ford did not achieve the honour of becoming the first female jockey to win the National, she described finishing fifth on Forest Gunner as "the thrill of a lifetime".

She said: "Generally, he was brilliant. He has run here twice before. But he was never able to fiddle away - a couple of times he had to reach for a fence or two and was very long at the ditch after Valentines."

Women racegoers said they were disappointed Mrs Ford did not win the race. Solicitor and housewife Annette Small, from Heswall, Wirral, said: "I really wanted Carrie Ford to win. It would have been wonderful for the feminists." Aintree managing director Charles Barnett said: "This has been a tremendous start for John Smith's sponsorship of the Grand National.

"Each day has seen an increase in attendance and we are absolutely delighted that they have been rewarded in this way."

grahamdavies@dailypost.co.uk

Owner inspired by Red Rum

WINNING the Grand National was something of a homecoming for Hedgehunter's owner Trevor Hemmings.

After the big race on Saturday, the former building contractor told how he had built a Merseyside holiday camp in the 1970s.

Mr Hemmings said while he was working on Pontin's in Ainsdale, his love for racing was fuelled as he watched Red Rum being trained on the beach.

He said: "I built it when I was a young man. I was just a contractor back then.

"But I met Ginger McCain, and I would watch him running Red Rum along the beaches in Southport."

Mr Hemmings said his passion for racing had been nurtured by Fred Pontin, who won the 1971 National with Specify.

He said: "It's an unbelievable feeling. It's been 24 years I've been waiting to get into this position.

"I was beginning to think it would never happen. Two years ago, just before the race, I talked to Jimmy Mangan, who trained Monty's Pass. I talked to Ginger McCain before Amberleigh House won last year, so this week I began to talk to myself in the mirror."

The property developer, who owns Blackpool Tower and has a reported personal fortune of £730m, has had 13 attempts at winning the National.

He added: "I thought this might be my year after I won two races at Cheltenham. By the way, when do I get the cheque?"